Boullier not thrilled with 2016 F1 testing cuts

Eric Boullier says he is not thrilled with the further reduction of testing in formula one. For 2016, the official pre-season programme has been cut from 12 days to just 8, while in-season testing has been axed altogether.

Asked if he is happy with that, McLaren-Honda team boss Boullier answered: “I don’t think any team would be. But everyone says that formula one is too expensive and that it (reducing testing) is a very efficient way to save money.”

However, the Frenchman explained that less testing makes it harder for teams to develop — and McLaren-Honda undoubtedly has a lot of improving to do.

“Yes, it is certainly more difficult,” Boullier told Speed Week.

“Maybe we have gone a little too far, but that is what has been decided so we have to live with it.”

On McLaren-Honda’s difficult 2015 so far, Boullier denied that the team has at least achieved the ‘milestone’ of a handful of points.

In fact, he said a haul of just 5 points at the middle of the season for a grandee like McLaren is nothing short of “depressing”.

“We are taking a more aggressive approach now,” Boullier revealed. “After the summer break we will use some of our tokens to improve the engine. And I certainly hope it will be noticeable on the track.

“We still lack 120hp compared to Mercedes. So we need to continue to work under high pressure. It’s very important to remove these weaknesses, also with regards to the 2016 season,” he added. (GMM)